Pressing machine control



Sept. 5, 1939.

E. L. HYDE 2,171,566

PRESSING MACHINE CONTROL Filed Aug. 17, 1958 i o 24o,

INVENTOR v ELBERT L. HYDE FIG-5' BY ATTO NEYS 45 i3 intermediate itsends on the frame.

Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNETED STATES FATENT OFFICE Elbert L. Hyde, Shaker Heights. Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company,Norwood, Cinci of Ohio Application August 17 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pressing machine controls andmore particularly to a safety two-hand control for the type of presscommonly used for ironing garments, laundered articles and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control of the classdescribed wherein power means is provided for closing the pressingmachine and holding it closed, said power means has a control membernormally in power cut-off position and movable to power supply positionby the safety manuals, after which the safety manuals are maintained ina position to hold said control member in power supply position. Thepresent invention provides such a structure wherein no springs arenecessary but the parts function perfectly, relying upon pressure fluidto perform the functions described.

Other objects and purposes of the present invention will be apparent asthe description proceeds and the invention consists also in thearrangement of the various parts hereinafter described.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 shows an end elevation 25 of a pressing machinein open position with the control mechanism therefor showndiagrammatically; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the control mechanismin an intermediate position; Fig. 3 shows the control mechanism of Figs.1 and 2 in position corresponding to the fully closed position of thepressing members; Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the control mechanismof Figs. 1 to 3 with the supply of pressure fluid to the expansiblechamber means arranged in a slightly 35 different manner; while Fig. 5is a view of a portion of the control mechanism of Figs. 1 to 3 whereinthe expansible chamber means comprises a cylinder and piston arrangementinstead of a diaphragm.

While my invention is applicable to pressing machines of various types Ihave illustrated one commonly used in the laundry industry wherein aframe it! supports a pressing bed H and also supports a head lever l2pivotally mounted at This lever carries at its forward end a pressinghead it which is movable into and out of engagement with the bed H byoscillation of the head lever. Movement of the head lever is providedthrough 50 toggle which is connected by piston rod IS with a piston offluid motor l'i. A spring 18 normally biases the head toward openposition.

Motive fluid is supplied to motor i! from supply conduit !9 throughvalve casing 20 and conduit 24. The casing 26 houses a normally closednnati, Ohio, a corporation 1938, Serial No. 225,256

cable in the guides 23 which are fastened to the pressing machine frame.It will be understood that the valve casing 20 is also secured to theframe.

Safety two-hand control means is provided for actuating the valves incasing 29 to fluid supply position. It will be noted that the valves inthis casing are normally maintained in fluid cut-01f position, as shownin Fig. 1, by the pressure of the supply fluid against the poppet valve23a.

The manuals 2d and 25 are pivotally mounted on the press frame at 2511and 25a respectively in such a manner as to require a hand of theoperator on each of them for their coincidental actuation. The operativeconnection between these manuals and the power control member comprisesan equalizer bar 26 whose opposite ends are connected by toggles 24b and25b respectively with the manuals 2d and 25. The equalizer bar has aprojection 2? intermediate its ends for engagement with the casing ofthe diaphragm motor. Stops 28 and 29 limit the movement of the manuals.

The arrangement of the control mechanism is such that movement of themanuals to an intermediate position as shown in Fig. 2 provides fluidsupply to motor H but the manuals in such a position are alwaysreturnable to inoperative position if released. Means is providednormally limiting the movement of the manuals to this intermediateposition until the press is safely; closed. This means comprises a stopmember 30 normally lying between the toggles 2 31 and 25b and pivotallymounted on the press frame at 30a. The valve reaches fluid supplyposition before the toggles touch stop member 36. is provided forremoving this stop when the pressing members reach safe closed position.To this end a downwardly extending arm 39b rigid with the stop 38 ispivotally connected with rod 3! which passes through a suitable openingin the bracket I50, on toggle i5. Collar am on rod ,3! is engageable bybracket lea as the pressing members reach the safe closed position shownin Fig. 2 so that the next increment of movement rotates the stop 30 ina clockwise direction percasing 221) which cooperates with the dia-:.

Means mitting further movement of the manuals. Spring 32 normally holdsthe stop 30 in operative position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The operation of the control is as follows: With the pressing members inthe open position of Fig. l, the operator coincidentally moves themanuals 24 and 25 to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 2 wherethey are limited by movement of their respective toggles against thestop 39. Movement of one manual alone is suflicient just to take up thegap between the member 21 and the diaphragm motor casing 221). Movementof both manuals coincidentally moves the valves to the position shown inFig. 2, opening 20a and closing 28b. During this movement the parts inthe diaphragm motor remain in their original relative position, thediaphragm motor as a whole sliding in the guides 23. There may be asmall movement of the diaphragm between the time the valve reachessupply position and the time the toggles engage stop 39. This occursbecause the effective area of diaphragm 22a is greater than theefiective area of the poppet valve 29a so that the effect of thepressure fluid in chamber 22c preponderates over the effect of thepressure fluid against the poppet Valve 28a which tends at all times tohold this valve closed. If at this time either of the manuals isreleased it will return to inoperative position because of the effect ofthe pressure fluid in the valves 20a and 20b as well as because of thepressure in chamber 1220. Upon the supply of fluid in this mannerthrough conduit 2! to motor H the motor makes a stroke tendingtostraighten toggle 65 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and moving thepressing head 14 to the safe closed position there shown. Upon reachingthis position a slight additional straightening movement of togglecauses the bracket i5a to engage the collar are pulling on rod 3| andmoving stop 30 from between toggles 24b and 25b. This permits theoperator to move manuals 24 and 25 beyond intermediate position to themaintained position of Fig. 3. In moving from the position of Fig, 2 tothat of Fig. 3 it will be noted that the toggles 24b and 252) must moveover center and during such movement the expansible chamber meansrepresented by the diaphragm motor 22 is compressed or contracted topermit this movement, otherwise the over-center movement would not bepossible because of the fact that poppet valve 2% is firmly against itsseat and is rigidly connected through the valve stem 200 with thediaphragm 22a. After the manuals reach the position of Fig. 3 theoperator may release them and they will remain in that position as theexpansible effect of the diaphragm motor 22 acting back through theequalizer bar 26 against the toggles 25b and 25b holds them in theovercenter position of Fig. 3. To open the press either or both of themanuals is returned to the position of Fig. 1 which permits the valve incasing 29 to close and remain closed because of the pressure of thesupply fluid on the poppet valve 20a.

In Fig. 4 I have shown another arrangement for supplying pressure to thechamber 220. This comprises a conduit 33 connected with supply conduitl9 and having a flexible connection secured to the diaphragm casing 22b.The supply through conduit 23 is analogous to the supply through passage20d formerly described and this device might be substituted for thatalready described without further change.

Another modification is shown in Fig. 5 wherein I have substituted acylinder and piston motor 34' which in all respects is analogous to thediaphragm motor 22. Here the piston 34a is rigidly connected to thevalve stem 200 which is hollow as in Figs. 1 to 3 so as to supply fluidto the chamber 340 which is provided by the cooperation between thecylinder 34b and the piston 34a. This device may be substituted in thedevice of Figs. 1 to 3 without other change.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine comprising a pair of relatively movablecoacting pressing members, power means for producing said relativemovement to close the machine and to hold it closed, a control memberfor said power means normally in power out-ofi position, two spacedsafety manuals associated with said control member to requirecoincidental actuation of both manuals to an intermediate position tomove said control member to power supply position, stop means normallypreventing movement of said manuals beyond said intermediate position,expansible means between said manuals and said control member comprisingtwo relatively movable parts forming a pressure fluid containing chamberbetween them, one part being arranged to operate said control member andthe other part to be operated by said manuals, means for withdrawingsaid stop means by movement of said pressing members to a safeclosedposition to permit said manuals to be moved beyond said intermediateposition to a maintained position, said expansible means beingcontracted by such manual movement, and the fluid pressure in saidchamber exerting a tendency to hold said control member in power supplyposition.

2. In a pressing machine comprising a pair of relatively movablecoacting pressing members, fluid actuated power means for producing saidrelative movement to close said machine and to hold it closed, a supplyof pressure fluid for said power means, a control valve of the poppettype for controlling the flow of fluid to said power means, said valvebeing normally urged toward fluid cut-01f position, two spaced safetymanuals associated with said control valve to require coincidentalactuation of both manuals to an intermediate position to move saidcontrol valve to fluid supply position, stop means normally preventingmovement of said manuals beyond said intermediate position, expansiblemeans between said manuals and said control valve comprising tworelatively movable parts forming a pressure fluid containing chamberbetween them, one part being arranged to operate said control valve andthe other part to be operated by said manuals, means for withdrawingsaid stop means upon movement of said pressing members to a safeclosedposition to permit said manuals to be moved beyond said intermediateposition to a maintained position, said expansible means beingcontracted by such manual movement, and the fluid pressure in saidchamber exerting a tendency to hold said manuals and valve in fluidsupply position.

ELBERT L. HYDE.

